Fifty-some Slow Food representatives from around the world have united in northern Italy this weekend for its annual meeting. Leaders have come from all corners of the world to meet in the region of Piedmont in northern Italy, travelling from as far as Australia, South Africa, South Korea and Brazil.

“Slow Food began life 25 years ago and today our global presence is represented in this assembly,” said Slow Food President Carlo Petrini in his opening speech. “We are a movement that interprets the complexity of the world in this historical moment…Slow Food is not a political party. We are not just an association. We are a movement, and a movement has a life of its own.” The council meeting coincides with the opening of a weeklong celebration for the 10th birthday of the University of Gastronomic Sciences.